by John Laforet
posted on February 13th, 2010 at 08:00:50 am
I have been a candidate for a month now and the kind words and best wishes I’ve received from folks living in Ward 43 and around the City are genuinely humbling. People seem to believe voice like mine on Council would be a good thing, even if we don’t agree on everything.
Having a principled, honest, socially progressive, fiscally conservative, community oriented voice who is committed to enhancing opportunities for local communities to take a more active role in decision making would be a fundamentally good thing for the City and my community.
Our campaign is grassroots driven, and will need the financial support of those who believe in what we’re trying to achieve if we are to succeed. We have receptive voters, and a good team coming together, but need the tools to run the distance.
I will stand up for local democracy, support effective and efficient public transit, demand action on affordable housing and childcare, while seeking financial sustainability to budgeting. I bring the same passion and energy to these other municipal issues as I have to my principled opposition to Toronto Hydro’s ill-conceived proposal for my community and will demand results when elected.
I am committed to community building, citizen engagement and collaborative decision making. It’s our City and we need a voice at the table reflecting our views. Whether you live in Ward 43 or not, if you want to see active, responsive Councillors who listen to real people and not just the folks on the lobbyist registry, I’m your guy.
We have a good chance of winning here, but not without your help. I can’t do this alone or on your behalf without your active support. It just won’t work.
I’m asking you to consider making a contribution to my campaign if you believe in what we’re trying to achieve.
The City of Toronto has a generous rebate program that all donors regardless of where they live in Ontario are eligible for. A donation of $300 would cost you just $75 as the City rebates the first 75% of any donation between 25-300 with a sliding scale for larger amounts over that. For more information on the rebate program for specific dollar amounts please click here.
Don’t wait for others to step up, because they’re waiting for you to do the same.
Join us, take action and contribute to what can only be a success with your help.
Keep our message alive. Give us the tools to succeed. Click donate on the right hand side of the screen to do what you can to help.
Would you like to comment? Please feel free to visit the Contact page on my site and contact me. Click subscribe if you would like to receive daily updates from http://laforet.ca in your inbox.
Tags: #voteTO, Affordable Housing, Grassroots, John Laforet Campaign, Local Democracy, Subsidized Day Care, Ward 43
by John Laforet
posted on February 7th, 2010 at 18:06:33 pm
It had a great day connecting with my neighbours in Ward 43 today. Although it was cold, the sun was out, and many people were quite willing to talk about how we can change direction and turn the page together in the upcoming term on Council. For much of the day I was talking with Guildwood residents about Toronto Hydro’s wind turbine proposal, and what we’ll need to do to stop their irresponsible plan from damaging the environment or our community. We need to protect our green space and natural environments. There is an overall disappointment with a lack of local leadership from our Councillor, his antics at City Hall and more broadly, the actions of City Hall in general.
Making the decision to run for public office isn’t an easy one, not matter what anyone says. What makes being a candidate so rewarding, is the ability to work on solutions with residents, offer something different, and solutions that will improve the community we each call home. If we continue to work together, and build a vision we can pursue over the coming months, we’ll then have four years to see action on our priorities and truly turn the page for our community.
I am humbled by the response I’ve received so far and motivated that much more to press on over the coming months in hopes that the community can unify behind the only candidate in the race whose got a plan to improve our community moving forward.
We have a long way to go, and it’s going to take the help of many if we’re going to succeed. I want to hear your thoughts, and ideas so please feel free to write me.
Our campaign can only be successful with the financial support of those who believe in what we’re trying to achieve.
Would you like to comment? Please feel free to visit the Contact page on my site and contact me. Click subscribe if you would like to receive daily updates from http://laforet.ca in your inbox.
Tags: 2010 Municipal Election, Guildwood, Scarborough East, Ward 43
by John Laforet
posted on February 5th, 2010 at 21:38:23 pm
I was downtown tonight and came across a massive hole in the sidewalk by a sewer grate. Basically the sidewalk has been dug away creating a giant hole, that is large enough for a person to surely meet their end in. Clearly the hole was intentional, but marking this with a single pylon and leaving a giant, essentially unmarked hole in the sidewalk, couldn’t have been. No one’s judgement can be that bad.
So I decided something needed to be done to raise this to the attention to someone in a position to do something about it. I called Toronto’s 311 service in hopes that they might be able to help me figure out who to contact to make sure something was done tonight.
I have to say, service was quick. The phone literally rang once before it was answered. I started explaining the situation and the location but the potential seriousness of this issue hadn’t really hit the person on the other end. I was getting frustrated because it seems pretty clear to me that this is a problem. I was put on hold while the 311 representative got more information on how to handle this and what was playing?
And you can’t always get what you want, honey
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime, yeah,
You just might find you get what you need!
The 1969 Rolling Stone’s classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (This link will take you to a YouTube recording of a live performance)
I couldn’t help but laugh.
For any organization this is embarrassing for your customer service line, for the City of Toronto it’s a little too honest. In my particular case, not only could I not get what I want, but what I think people need – the hole properly covered with something (like a plywood board? giant piece of metal?). We see this all the time in other parts of the City when folks are leaving open trenches and holes in roads and sidewalks.
The call ended with the 311 representative asking for my name and phone number, saying she would pass it along and if they needed any more information someone would call. There was no commitment to any action being taken, or even appreciation for the issue.
So I went back, with my camera to take pictures of said hole and here they are. If you get bored, call 311 (they are open 24/7) and ask them to send someone to cover the giant hole in the sidewalk at Yonge and Harbour on the southwest corner that could end really badly if they don’t.
Would you like to comment? Please feel free to visit the Contact page on my site and contact me. Click subscribe if you would like to receive daily updates from http://laforet.ca in your inbox.
Tags: Sidewalk Hole, Toronto 311, Toronto's 311 Call Centre, Yonge and Harbour
